Long-term care facilities that cater to the elderly and the immobile have a difficult job to do. It takes hard work and compassion to provide the care and treatments these patients/residents require. Sadly, there are many facilities that hire workers who are not in the business of “caring” which places many residents at risk of suffering an injury or contracting an illness. While these facilities are required to follow federal regulations, evidence has proven that there is little repercussion when laws are broken.
In the event a nursing home or other long-term care facility neglects to follow the duty of care outlined in the laws, they not only put their residents at risk, but they may also receive a fine from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Again, that hasn’t prevented them from continuing to provide services to residents even if they have been recognized for violating laws.
What are some of the violations Illinois nursing homes are being recognized for?
According to IDPH’s most recent 2017 quarterly report, we know of the violations that are taking place in facilities all across Illinois. This helps us become better aware of what could potentially happen in a facility where our loved one might beresiding. This is why it’s important to conduct research prior to placing an elderly loved one in a nursing home.Rather than just choosing one that is more affordable or closer in distance, it’s essential to learn about the care provided and if there are any violations in that particular nursing home..
Below we highlight a few of the violations that nursing homes were fined with to help you gain some insight into what really happens in some of these facilities. [Source: River Bender].
- Harmony Nursing & Rehab Center– The facility received a fine of $25,000 for failing “to conduct a follow-up assessment of an eye condition in which the resident was admitted to the hospital with conjunctival infection.” The facility also failed to provide the resident with a follow up skin assessment in which deep tissue injuries were found.
- Hope Creek Care Center– The facility was fine $25,000 “for failure to safely transfer a resident resulting in the resident sustaining a broken femur.”
- Lexington Health Care Center of Lombard– This facility was also fined $25,000 for failing to safety transfer a resident which resulted in them sustaining a fractured femur.
- Midway Neurological/Rehab Center– This facility failed to prevent a resident from entering a restricted room which led them to falling five stories down a laundry chute. The resident broke multiple bones and was required to be hospitalized where surgery was performed. The facility was fined $25,000.
- Washington Christian Village– After receiving two fines which amounted to $50,000 for failing “to properly administer one resident’s medications resulting in emergency hospitalization and preventing stage four pressure sores,” the facility only had to pay $27,776.50 after requesting a hearing.
While it might seem as though IDPH is on top of these facilities and the laws they are violating, the truth is, many of them only pay a fraction of the fine issued. Because the fines are reduced, laws are continually broken which means residents are still suffering.
If you have a relative living in a nursing home in Chicago, IL, and they aren’t being properly cared for, they could be the victim of abuse or neglect. In that case, you do want to speak with one of our Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers here at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. There are various forms of legal action that can be taken and unlike the reduced fines that are issued by the IDPH, we will fight for harsher penalties to be enforced. Call us today at 1-312-384-1920 to get a free initial consultation scheduled.
